Localization and persistence of group A streptococcal cell walls related to cardiac lesions in mice (Japanese)

Abstract

With fluorescein labelled antibodies specific for group A streptococcal cell wall antigens, the localization and persistence were studied in mice sensitized by a single intraperitoneal injection of cell walls or their fragments of group A streptococcal type 5. The presence of C carbohydrate and peptidoglycan was demonstrated in the reticuloendothelial system, kidney, and heart of the mice for 45 days. Mice injected with pronase treated cell walls, developed carditis accompanied by the degeneration of muscle fibers and granuloma formation in the interstitium of muscles between 10 and 15 days after injection. No cell wall antigens, however, were observed in any cardiac lesion. Furthermore, neither antibodies could be detected from any cardiac lesion by the indirect fluorescein antibody technique nor humoral antibodies by the precipitating reaction with C carbohydrate or peptidoglycan. From these results it is suggested that the cardiac lesions of the mice might have been caused by the direct toxicity of the C carbohydrate peptidoglycan complex contained in group A streptococcal type 5 organisms. (Journal received: February 1975)